[.ca] What Sound

From Amazon.co.uk:
Tension has always been at the core of Lamb's appeal but What Sound is a different matter entirely. Louise Rhodes' angelic, if slightly unhinged, vocals being rubbed up the wrong way by Andy Barlow's dank trip-hop beats, manic drum & bass and sleazy jazz made the duo's self-titled debut and follow-up, Fear of Fours, supremely affecting. As it transpires, the tension was not just musical, and Fear of Fours almost split the duo. Two years and a lot of hatchet burying later--and with the help of co-producer Guy Sigsworth who's supplied magical backdrops for some of Bjork and Madonna's best--Rhodes and Barlow are much happier together. Consequently, What Sound is a very different Lamb album. While ingenuity and eclecticism are still firmly in play, the mood that runs through the other worldly sway of "Just Is" and the tender drum loops of "Gabriel" is one of absolute calm. And it's absolutely captivating. Likewise, "Heaven on Earth" and "Small", with Rhodes' serene vocals backed by the luscious swathes of synths, are gorgeous, and even the seedier Massive Attack stylings of "One" manage to be effortlessly sensual. Certainly the tracks are far less jagged and contrary now that Rhodes and Barlow have discovered a harmonious middle ground, but Lamb are still, without question, one of music's most dynamic duos. --Dan Gennoe

Chronique amazon.fr:
Moins turbulente que par le passé, la musique de Lamb continue, à l'heure de ce troisième album, de célébrer les noces d'une voix ample et troublante, celle de Louise Rhodes, avec les orchestrations luxuriantes que manie Andy Barlow. Ce dernier jongle toujours aussi habilement avec des sonorités organiques (dont se dégagent de somptueuses cordes), des éléments électroniques et des rythmiques qui jouent ici la carte de l'apaisement. La réalisation est parfaite, le chant est envoûtant, les mélodies ont tout pour plaire, pourtant Lamb donne l'impression d'avoir troqué son inspiration originale contre une certaine efficacité qui condamne cet album à n'être qu'un bel objet. Un très bel objet tout de même. Comme quoi trop de maîtrise nuit parfois au plaisir ultime. What Sound n'en passe pourtant pas bien loin sur des titres comme "What Sound", "Written" ou "I Cry". --Fabrice Privé

okay, where's the funky beats?:
Maybe I was hoping too much for an albumn to rival the first Lamb album. This album is okay and her voice is great, even better then the other albums, but it focuses way too much on her voice and seems to pretty much forget about all the cool beats and interchange between singer and dj that the first Lamb had. Gabriel does not come close to Gorecki, mainly because it never really has the drum and bass part that kicks in towards the midle of Gorecki and makes that song so awesome.

lyrics to live by:
I have always been a listener to every sort of music,but also have always had a taste for the slower sadder, more moody and "pretty" type of music, so when I discovered Lamb I was more then delighted, I was in a heavenly state of happiness, bringing the meloncholy sound to mesh with the dark , fast and feel good. Something new for the ears with this album. If you like electronic music or are just getting a starting taste of it I'd hope for your sake that you'd run across this album. This is a cd that all the songs become one and you put on repeat all for hours. I love Lamb and their ability too take such original rythms and sounds and mesh them so beautifully with electronic and lisa rhodes, more than unique vocals. This album really did something to me that other cd's just can't compare to..for an exceptional Lamb listener looking for a newer album or just someone seeking new music to listen to, i recomend this cd. Just fantastically Beeautiful. A Brilliant canvas of sound........What is that sound?

Pleasant Sound:
Lamb`s third album, while neither as adventurous and risky as their debut nor as impressive and strong as its follow up "Fear of Fours", is still a captivating and innovative offering. Here, the british duo reduces the drum n` bass / trip-hop/ jazz influences of their previous records and goes for a more dream pop-oriented sound. "What Sound" presents an ethereal, innocent feel, adopting a more sweet and melodic perspective than the band`s earlier experiments. The electronic beats here are soft and subtle, adding a nice touch to the fragile and child-like Louise Rhodes` voice, creating lush and beautiful songs like the addictive title track, the heartfelt "Heaven" or the contemplative "Small". The instrumental "Scratch Bass" is a great moment either, proving that Andy Barlow is a terrific sound manipulator. Although this album doesn`t bring nothing particularly new, it still shows that Lamb are an impressive tour-de-force and one of the most exciting creative forces of the (now tired) trip-hop genre. So, "What Sound" one deserves a few listens since it has much to recommend.

Excellent...:
As usual, an interesting and absorbing effort by the talented couple...

Depressing:
I discovered LAMB when I first heard 'Gabriel', a great song. So I decided to buy the album. I was hardly impressed. Its very depressing, and all the tracks are pale compared to Gabriel, my favourite track. Its frustrating to listen to, as there is some garbage Electronica in between the emotional moody songs. So you do need to skip often if you're not into that. Also, it sounds so much like the groups of that genre (Bjork,Potrishead,etc.) you hardly get the feeling you're listening to an original artist. If you have Gabriel through a comp CD, dont buy it!

• What Sound
• One
• Sweet
• I Cry
• Scratch Bass
• Heaven
• Small
• Written
• Gabriel
• Sweetheart
• Just Is